Female residents of Harmony Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation may each receive an orchid corsage – if enough individuals and businesses will sponsor a program, locally.

The Havelock Shrine Club, Sudan Shriners, has been providing pink or white cymbidium orchids to nursing homes and children’s hospitals in the Havelock area for at least eight years.

Shriner Charlie Justice said the club members decided to branch out to the senior homes.

“It just blossomed from here,” he said. “We started with one rest home and it grew from there.”

Robin Price, another member, said he has expanded the program into Kinston.

“My mother is currently a resident of Harmony Hall,” the former Kinston resident said.

The program raises money to support the Havelock Shrine Club’s car maintenance and provides funds for its charity activities, including supporting its children’s hospital in South Carolina.

The orchids will be given to the ladies who reside at Harmony Hall a few days before Easter. Many of the residents are widowed and see few visitors, Price said.

“We gave over 350 residents, last year, orchids,” he said. “You can’t believe the look on these women’s faces when they get this.”

The orchids are boxed and shipped from California overnight. Each contains a water-based liquid vial to keep the flowers fresh.

They generally last up to six months, but some have lasted as long as 13 months when they are taken care of properly, Price said. Directions for care are included in the box.

The Shriners are looking for businesses to purchase the orchids at $6 each. The Shriners will dress in their club outfits and present the corsages to about 125 ladies at Harmony Hall.

Every female resident will receive an orchid. If there are more ladies than flowers, the club members will dip into their own pockets, Price said.

Businesses sponsoring 10 or more orchids will receive a special certificate.

“We try to recognize those companies that donate 10 or more,” Price said.

In addition, anyone can purchase an orchid for a loved one, such as their wife, mother, grandmother, sister or other special person, for the same price. However, the fundraiser mainly focuses on the charity effort.

“Our main goal is to try to get the orchids into the rest homes,” Justice said.

Price said any Shriners club that would like to participate in future local orchid fundraisers are invited to call him at 252-342-7931. Individuals and business interested in sponsoring or purchasing orchids can call the same number or Charlie Justice at 252-229-0748.

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com . Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.

Want to help?

To purchase or donate money for Easter orchid corsages, call Robin Price at 252-342-7931 or Charlie Justice at 252-229-0748